Man wounded as robbers blast mall ATM

Johannesburg - A man was wounded when AK-47 assault rifle-wielding robbers blasted open an ATM then opened fire at a shopping centre in Soweto on Tuesday night, said police.

Warrant Officer Kay Makhubela said five robbers arrived at Makhetheng shopping centre, in Naledi, in Volkswagen Polo Vivo at 20:00. The shops had already closed.

"The five men plugged explosives into an [Absa] ATM and it later exploded," he said.

"Police heard the blast and they went about looking for where it had happened."

When the robbers heard that the police were on their way, they opened fire, wounding a passerby in his buttocks. They fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

Police found 30 spent AK-47 cartridges at the scene. Makhubela said a witness had told the police that three of the robbers were carrying assault rifles and the other two had handguns.

He said it had been a long time since there had been an ATM bombing in the area.

Comments

frank.crane.180 - 2012-08-22 08:08

Dodge city

mike.mike.7140497 - 2012-08-22 08:11

yeah agree

crackston.jack - 2012-08-22 09:02

Just another day in the ANC paradise, keep smiling :)

jus.manning - 2012-08-22 08:14

Militant gangs are taking over the city. We are disarmed and useless at controlling this. All these crimes are committed with military precision. what is the government doing about this? We are completely defenceless.

Christo.de.Bruyn - 2012-08-22 09:05

Not just there, Rustenburg had about 8 ATM Bombings this year. Bombers also fired random shots to prevent security companies and police from coming closer.

nadineelvina.francis - 2012-08-22 10:04

Another Somalia in the making

denis.gomo - 2012-08-22 08:24

The bank should not replace the bombed ATM...let the community suffer, only then will they report on criminals they house and protect ever day.

stuart.steedman - 2012-08-22 09:26

You say this until it's in your suburb, right? Or are you okay with not having an ATM near you?

heiku.staude - 2012-08-22 08:36

Everyone should get a free AK-47 from home affairs when they turn 16. That is clearly the only solution here.

stuart.steedman - 2012-08-22 09:28

That has to be one the stupidest things I've ever read online.
Your logic would mean that even potential criminals would get an AK-47.

cosmic.tone.3 - 2012-08-22 11:22

No, it would mean that EVEYONE gets an AK-47, even law abiding home owners.
Do you think someone would come to rob you knowing you had an assualt rifle in your house?
I think not...

gift.mushi.9 - 2012-08-22 08:40

Police are concetrating on the wrong area (Marikana) and real criminals are taking advantage of the situation.
But shooting of a passerby is wrong, or maybe he wanted to be a "Hero" by trying to arrest those thugs by wield a panga.

Hemlock - 2012-08-22 08:52

Scum buckets.....they want something, they just take it regardless of any consequences. Shoot the bastards on sight!

abrammothibedi.abram - 2012-08-22 09:23

where was the tekchnical task response unit or were they still kicking patrons in the nearby shebeen